South East Wales
Neuromuscular Physiotherapy Service
We are a physiotherapy team dedicated to the management and treatment of adult patients with neuromuscular conditions.
We offer lifelong advice and support to service users with a confirmed neuromuscular diagnosis, their relatives, involved health professionals and carers.
Important information:
The primary symptoms of neuromuscular disease are muscle weakness and muscle wasting of varying severity and distribution depending on the specific diagnosis, often these conditions are genetic. These include Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophies, FSHD, Charcot Marie Tooth, Myotonic Dystrophy, myopathies and other associated conditions.
Regular activity is beneficial for most people with neuromuscular condition and we can advise on the right type of exercises for you. These benefits include:
- Maintaining strength in unaffected muscles
- Reducing secondary muscle weakness
- Improving heart and lung function
- Preventing or reversing physical de-conditioning
(maintains stamina/endurance) - Reducing pain and fatigue
- Maintaining or improving joint range of movement
- Prolonging functional ability, such as walking and
climbing stairs - Improving mood and sleep
As a service we offer community and hospital based input (in the current COVID 19 restrictions we are limited to remote and telephone consultations), we work alongside other specialist health professionals in clinic settings and our colleagues in paediatrics to offer support to transition to adult services.
We offer onward referral to other NHS and non NHS services and signposting to relevant agencies e.g. for provision of equipment to facilitate independence, splints, walking aids, ongoing community exercise support. We are committed to promoting and empowering service users to engage in activity and self-management of their neuromuscular condition for the long term.
Useful Links
- Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK)
- Action Duchenne
- CMT UK
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS)
- NHS Choices
- Eating well
- Alcohol awareness
- Stopping smoking
Local and National Services
We are a regional specialist service supporting patients in Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, South Powys as well as our Cardiff and Vale Health Board service users.
Specialist physiotherapy support for service users with neuromuscular conditions. We work as part of a
multi-disciplinary team based at Rookwood Hospital.
Contact details
Hayley Davis
Clinical specialist physiotherapist
Rookwood hospital
Tel: 07966 143893
